LNG agreement: SC moved for disqualification of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Islamabad: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has filed petition in Supreme Court (SC) seeking nullification of LNG agreement and disqualification of Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The petition was filed by Sheikh Rashid Ahmad in SC through his counsel Latif Khosa Saturday. The petitioner took the plea that laws were not kept in view in the agreement. PML-N government did not keep in view SC directives in LNG accord. Therefore, LNG agreement be declared null and void and PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasai be disqualified. It was further said in the petition that as per agreement 27 million will have to be paid to a private company daily. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi pressurized MD PSO for importing LNG. But he refused to do so. Following his refusal a new MD Shahid Islam was appointed. The petitioner further stated that loss of billion of dollars was caused to Pakistan due to this illegal agreement. Qatari company is supplying LNG to Pakistan since 2015. The agreement was implemented on February 8, 2016. Question arises what were the prices during the period from June 2015 to January 2016. Importing LNG without agreement is illegal and it calls into question the integrity of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Transparency is must while awarding contracts of public interest. The petitioner prayed the court to declare it as matter of fundamental rights and fix it for hearing. The court should also issue orders for deseating PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the basis of dishonesty. The petitioner also requested the court to confiscate the assets and money plundered through the agreement. The court should appoint honest and competent person as chairman OGRA besides ordering chairman NAB to take action as per law. Sheikh Rashid has sought disqualification of PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi under article 62 and 63.
